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Philips DVP642: how-tos

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A/V Club
March 1, 2005 • Vol.2 Issue 2 Page(s) 38-39 in print issue
Philips DVP642: how-tos

Philips DVP642
$79.99
www.philips.com

DVD players are practically a dime a dozen anymore, and most have the same familiar features. Progressive scan, component output, MP3 playback? Yawn. So what's to set new DVD models apart? In the case of Philips' DVP642, it's DivX compatibility. We'll show you how to set up and use this player and talk about the benefits of DivX playback.

The DVP642's back panel contains the standard array of jacks and connectors. Use component video output if possible, S-Video if not, and the yellow composite video jacks as a last resort. Connect the audio output from the DVD player to the A/V receiver's audio input using either a digital optical or coaxial connection. If your receiver doesn't support digital audio (or if you're pushing the DVD player's sound through the TV), use the red and white analog stereo outputs. Budget a little extra for better connectors—Philips only includes yellow composite video and red and white stereo audio cables with the DVP642. The included Quick Use Guide diagrams your options quickly and clearly.

After you've connected the DVP642 to your TV or A/V receiver, take a few minutes to configure its on-screen menu. Most people never even see this tool, but it's an important way to make sure your player's setup matches your system. First, press System Menu on the remote control and check out the Video Setup page. Set the TV Display aspect ratio to match your display (such as 4:3 or 16:9). Choose your video connection, such as component video or S-Video, under Video Output. Navigate with the remote to the Progressive option. Expand the menu with the Right arrow and select On or Off, as your display dictates.

Take the time to configure the DVP642's video settings to match your display.

Only enable this feature if you have a television capable of displaying progressive-scan images. For normal screens, progressive scan creates no improvement in image quality and can actually degrade the picture. To turn off progressive scan without menu access, just turn on the player, open the disc tray, and press 1 on the remote control. Navigate to the Smart Picture menu, expand the submenu, and either choose a preset configuration or select Personal to customize the settings. Next, adjust Brightness, Contrast, Hue, and Saturation with the remote's arrow buttons to optimize the display on your television.

The DVP642 couldn't be easier to use. Just insert a disc and play. The DVP642 is compatible with DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW formats, as well as commercial CDs and CD-R/RW formats. The DVP642 supports MP3 playback, as well.

Dig Into DivX

Pop in a DivX, MP3, or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) data disc and navigate your folders and files with the remote.

The most interesting thing about the DVP642 has nothing to do with DVDs. Its support for DivX enables you to store and play full-length movies (and more) on regular CDs. At press time, the DVP642 was one of just eight models to support the new technology. DivX is a compression and display technology that retains image quality while creating tiny file sizes. Based on the MPEG-4 (Moving Picture Experts Group-4) standard, DivX can reduce MPEG-2 videos (the standard for commercial DVDs) to 10% of their original size. Even more impressively, DivX can reduce VHS recordings by as much as 99%.

To use DivX, rip, download, or convert video from any source (including home video, Internet sites, or VHS archives). If the video is in another format, you'll need to convert to DivX using software tools available for download from www.divx.com. Store the DivX files on your PC's hard drive and burn them to a regular CD-R/RW disc. We found a handful of (legal) movies and short films at www.divx.com. More rental and download sites are popping up every day, and, of course, you can always convert your own VHS and home video archive to DivX. To play the files, you need either special DivX decoder software or a device with built-in support for the standard. That's where the DVP642 comes in.

The DVP642's back panel offers all the standard connectors
you'd expect to find on a new DVD player.

To begin DivX playback, just turn on the player and insert a disc containing DivX files. The DVP642 will load its Data CD menu. Use the remote to navigate to a folder and file and press OK. You can also preview each item on the disc. Stop playback and press the Preview button on the remote control. Scroll through the thumbnails and select the video you want to watch.

As DVD technology proliferates, manufacturers are scrambling to find new ways to entice you to use their models. Philips' DVP642, with its very reasonable price tag, offers customizable controls, plenty of playback options,
and built-in support for a promising new technology.

by Gregory Anderson

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